Ahead of the 2025/26 football season, we take a look at some of the former and current footballers to receive a knighthood, CBE, OBE or MBE British honour.
Footballers who have received a knighthood
The first man thought to have received a knighthood for his services to football is Charles Clegg in June 1927 (Gazette issue 33280). Though the citation did not mention football, Clegg was a former player who became both the chairman and president of the Football Association (FA).
World Cup winner Stanley Matthews (Gazette issue 43529) is the only footballer who was still actively playing to receive a knighthood. All other members of the England squad for the 1966 World Cup winning team were awarded an MBE, while Bobby Charlton (Gazette issue 53696) and Geoff Hurst (Gazette issue 55155) have both since received knighthoods.
Most recently, former England captain David Beckham was knighted for "services to Sport and to Charity". Long-time Manchester United FC manager Alex Ferguson was also knighted 'For services to Association Football' in June 1999 (Gazette issue 55513), while former men's England National Football Team manager Gareth Southgate was knighted "For services to Association Football" in the 2025 New Year Honours (Gazette issue 64607).
Active footballers with British honours
Currently, there are 17 active players who have received King's Birthday or New Year Honours:
- Millie Bright OBE - Chelsea FC Women (Gazette issue 64269)
- Sophie Ingle OBE (Gazette issue 63918)
- Leah Williamson OBE - Arsenal WFC (Gazette issue 63918)
- Lucy Bronze MBE - Chelsea FC Women (Gazette issue 63918)
- Rachel Daly MBE - Aston Villa W.F.C. (Gazette issue 64759)
- Loren Dykes MBE - Cardiff City Ladies FC (Gazette issue 62866)
- Mary Earps MBE - Paris Saint-Germain FC (Gazette issue 64269)
- Jonny Evans MBE (Gazette issue 64082)
- Lauren Hemp MBE - Manchester City WFC (Gazette issue 64269)
- Jordan Henderson MBE - AFC Ajax (Gazette issue 63377)
- Harry Kane MBE - FC Bayern (Gazette issue 62507)
- Kim Little MBE - Arsenal WFC (Gazette issue 63918)
- Beth Mead MBE - Arsenal WFC (Gazette issue 63918)
- James Milner MBE - Brighton & Hove Albion FC (Gazette issue 63714)
- Marcus Rashford MBE - Manchester United FC (Gazette issue 63142)
- Andrew Robertson MBE - Liverpool FC (Gazette issue 63918)
- Raheem Sterling MBE - Chelsea FC (Gazette issue 63377)
While seven players on the list received honours for services to football, Marcus Rashford received an MBE in 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours "For services to Vulnerable Children in the UK during Covid-19", and Raheem Sterling was awarded an MBE "For services to Racial Equality in Sport."
As well as being awarded an MBE "For services to Football", Jordan Henderson also received his honour for services "to Charity particularly during the Covid-19 Pandemic", while Andrew Robertson also received his honour for services "to Charity and to Young People."
Notable famous former footballers with British honours
Here are some recent former footballers who received British honours:
- Alan Shearer* CBE (Gazette issue 61608)
- David Beckham OBE (Gazette issue 56963)
- Karen Carney OBE (Gazette issue 64423)
- Rio Ferdinand OBE (Gazette issue 63714)
- Ryan Giggs OBE (Gazette issue 58358)
- Frank Lampard OBE (Gazette issue 61256)
- Ian Wright** OBE (Gazette issue 64082)
- Rachel Yankey OBE (Gazette issue 57855)
- Gareth Bale MBE (Gazette issue 63714)
- Jen Beattie MBE (Gazette issue 63918)
- Karen Carney MBE (Gazette issue 61803)
- Gillian Coultard MBE (Gazette issue 63218)
- Steven Davis MBE (Gazette issue 61962)
- Steven Gerrard MBE (Gazette issue 58196)
- Steph Houghton MBE (Gazette issue 61450)
- Aaron Hughes MBE (Gazette issue 62866)
- Gareth McAuley MBE (Gazette issue 62507)
- Eniola Aluko MBE (Gazette issue 64082)
- Alex Scott MBE (Gazette issue 61803)
- Kelly Smith MBE (Gazette issue 58729)
- Jill Scott MBE (Gazette issue 62866)
- Casey Stoney MBE (Gazette issue 61256)
- Ellen White MBE (Gazette issue 63918)
- Faye White MBE (Gazette issue 58196)
- Ian Wright MBE (Gazette issue 55710)
*Alan Shearer was also appointed an OBE in 2001 (Gazette issue 56237).
**Ian Wright was also appointed an MBE in 1999 (Gazette issue 55710).
Foreign football players with honorary British honours
Anybody in the UK can make a recommendation for a British national to receive an honour. However, the Foreign Office does also recommend honorary awards for foreign nationals to be approved by His Majesty The King.
Currently there are six non-UK footballers to receive honorary British honours, with the most recent being England manager Sarina Wiegman following the teams' win at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022:
- Henrik Larsson MBE (honorary)
- Pelé KBE (honorary)
- Niall Quinn MBE (honorary)
- Peter Schmeichel MBE (honorary)
- Sarina Wiegman CBE (honorary)
- Gianfranco Zola OBE (honorary)
See also
Gazette tennis greats: infographic
Find out more
Nominate someone for an honour or award (GOV.UK)
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Publication updated
16 June 2025